Insulin Resistance Liver Damage: Diabetes is turning your liver into stone, with one in four patients at risk of fibrosis.:Diabetes is no longer limited to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves; liver disease should also be considered its fourth major complication.

News Topical, Digital Desk : The notion that diabetes is limited to blood sugar is now proving to be a misconception in India. A 2026 multicenter study, the DiaFib-Liver Study, challenged this notion. The study revealed that one in four adults with type 2 diabetes in India has liver fibrosis, or severe scarring of the liver. Furthermore, one in every 20 patients is at risk of cirrhosis.

What did the study reveal?

This study suggests that diabetes is no longer limited to the eyes, kidneys, and nerves; liver disease should also be considered its fourth major complication. The research specifically focused on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, formerly known as fatty liver. MASLD begins when insulin resistance increases and excess fat accumulates in the liver. This fat gradually causes inflammation and eventually leads to fibrosis, where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue.

What do experts say?

Dr. Kapil Sharma told TOI that the imbalance of fat and glucose in the body in type 2 diabetes also affects the liver. According to statistics, approximately 70 percent of diabetics develop fat deposits in the liver, which can lead to inflammation and fibrosis over time. Doctors point out that there are several risk factors for this disease, such as obesity, poor sugar control, high triglycerides, and metabolic syndrome. Importantly, in many cases, liver disease progresses without any obvious symptoms, further increasing the risk.

Fat accumulation alone is not that dangerous.

Research also emphasizes that fat accumulation alone is not as dangerous as fibrosis. Fibrosis indicates that the disease has reached a more severe stage and can increase the risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, and even death. Therefore, experts recommend that more attention should be paid to detecting fibrosis in diabetic patients, not just checking for fatty liver. Regular testing, such as liver enzyme tests and fibroscans, is essential to detect the disease in its early stages.

What is the method of prevention?

To prevent this, doctors recommend maintaining weight control, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding refined carbohydrates and alcohol. It's also important to keep blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure under control.